NHL Rumors: Tyler Bertuzzi drawing interest, and is Colton Parayko available?
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors looks at Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi as a potential top trade target for contenders. Plus, the St. Louis Blues are sellers, but are they ready to move players with term too?
Let’s dive in.
NHL Rumors: Tyler Bertuzzi
The Detroit Red Wings are heating up and may decide to hold on to Tyler Bertuzzi despite him being a pending UFA. However, there’s a lot of interest in the gritty winger amongst contenders looking to beef up for the playoffs.
Jeff Marek recently noted that several teams are eyeing the forward with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning at the top. Elliotte Friedman noted in his recent 32 Thoughts blog that the Edmonton Oilers could be suitors as well considered GM Ken Holland drafted Bertuzzi back in 2013.
Bertuzzi, 27, has only played in 23 games this season due to injuries. He only has 11 points on the year but is heating up with five (1 goal, 4 assists) in his last four contests.
What many contenders like about him, is the low cap hit of $4.75M. That makes it much easier to fit for cap strapped teams, especially if the Wings will retain 50% of it.
Keep your eyes on the Toronto Maple Leafs as well.
NHL Rumors: Colton Parayko available?
The St. Louis Blues have already made one big deal when they shipped both Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers last week. It was an expected move, since both are pending UFAs in July. The same can be said regarding captain Ryan O’Reilly and Ivan Barbashev, who remain high on many trade bait lists.
However, Darren Dreger threw out a curve ball on the latest TSN Insider Trading saying they may trade a defenseman.
“We highlight Colton Parayko, not just because he’s a right shot D, but primarily because of DEAL and also because he’s drawing the most interest among those defense,” Dreger said. It’s a good group: Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, Leddy. All of those men have no trade clauses, so it is a little bit complicated, but it’s also very possible St. Louis moves a defenseman.”
Parayko, 29, has 18 points in 51 games this season. Per CapFriendly, he has seven more years on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million with a full no trade clause until 2028.
While this is an interesting development, I view this as a potential offseason move rather than something that can be consummated prior to the March 3 NHL Trade Deadline.
